March 2, 2001
OPSEU launches corrections safety task force
Fueled by deteriorating working conditions and asinine statements by
Corrections Minister Norm Sterling, OPSEU has launched a Health and Safety Task
Force to investigate concerns in our Ministry. OPSEU First
Vice-President/Treasurer Len Hupet announced the initiative at a Queen’s Park
press conference held on Wed., Feb. 28.
Hupet was quick to jump on Sterling’s intentions to post correctional
officer sick-time averages on the Ministry web site.
"This statement was greeted with absolute outrage by correctional
officers across Ontario," Hupet said. "Mr. Sterling, who has fewer
than three months’ experience with the corrections portfolio, knows nothing of
the work we do. It would be easy for us to sit here and attack the Minister for
his arrogance. Instead, we are here today to help lead him out of his
ignorance."
Hupet went on to describe to reporters exactly what OPSEU members are facing.
"An Ontario jail is not a country club," Hupet said. "Many of
our 46 facilities hold only maximum-security inmates, both those serving
sentences and those on remand awaiting trial or sentencing. Our jails hold
murderers, rapists, armed robbers, and other dangerous criminals. Others are
dangerous in other ways. The prison population is rife with Hepatitis A,
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, tuberculosis, HIV, and other contagious
diseases."
Hupet explained that severely overcrowded conditions are leading to increased
tensions and more frequent attacks on staff.
"In many cases, we have three adult males in a cell that is smaller than
most bathrooms," Hupet said. "Our jails are experiencing more
assaults: inmates assaulting inmates, and inmates assaulting correctional
officers. We now spend more time breaking up fights and defending ourselves from
attacks than ever before."
Barry Scanlon, chair of the OPSEU Corrections Ministry Employee Relations
Committee was also in attendance at the media event, along with Mark Dewar,
vice-president of Local 582 at the Toronto East Detention Centre.
Scanlon told the press that the deteriorating conditions inside the jails
have reached intolerable levels, and that for many correctional officers,
Sterling’s callous and insensitive attack was the final straw.
"We can no longer abide by what’s happening in our workplaces,"
Scanlon said. "I have sent a letter to Mr. Sterling demanding that he
immediately address the problems we’re facing. Failing that, we will be forced
to take control of the institutions ourselves."
When asked by the Toronto Star if he was talking about a work to rule,
Scanlon said no. "We’re talking about ‘work to safety’," he
said. "Running inmate programs and maintaining normal operations will not
take precedence over safety. If we’re short-staffed and overcrowded, we will
take the necessary measures to ensure our members are not going to get
hurt."
The Task Force initiative officially launched in Sudbury on Thur., Mar. 1.
Members were in attendance from the Sudbury Jail, Cecil Facer Youth Centre,
Northern Treatment Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Jail and Monteith Complex. At the
meeting, plans were discussed for members to "tell their stories."
Over the next two weeks, surveys will be going out to all members and Local
Executive Committees to document the systemic destruction of the correctional
system by the Ministry. A video will also be produced featuring members relating
their experiences.
"We intend to show that this government is deliberately sabotaging our
jails to justify their privatization plans," Barry said. "We want
EVERY member to tell us what they’re dealing with on the front line."
Watch here for regular bulletins as the Task Force progresses. Local and
Provincial representatives will be contacting you to get your participation.
"It’s time we showed this Minister what being a correctional officer
is all about," Barry said. "Then maybe he’ll be a little more
hesitant about resorting to publicity stunts like sick time averages."
Syl Apps workers finally getting cash
Members and former members of Syl Apps Youth Centre will finally see some of
their cash in their pockets.
As reported in the Feb. 2 Lock Talk,
Management Board Secretariat had withheld severance pay from these members due
to an OPSEU grievance win.
Last Tuesday, the Employer agreed to pay out the legislated severance owed to
all employees within seven days. Although there remain issues to be resolved,
Bob Eaton, chair of the OPSEU ComSoc Ministry Employee Relations Committee, is
pleased that money is finally coming to the members.
"At least 15 members turned out for the hearing on Tuesday," Eaton
said. "The employer’s reprehensible behaviour solidified the solidarity
at the newly-formed local. I’m sure that management wanted to drive a wedge
between the members and the union, but just the opposite happened. I want to
thank the employer for that."
The issue of enhanced severance is still before the arbitrators. The hearings
continue next week.
Officers hurt at TYAC riot
Two officers were hurt at a riot at the Toronto Youth Assessment Centre (TYAC)
on Sunday, Feb. 25. Young offenders began the disturbance after a television was
turned off at the scheduled time.
Thick, black smoke filled the facility after young offenders began lighting
fires, forcing staff to evacuate the facility. The Toronto Police Emergency Task
Force was also called to the scene.
Barry Scanlon, chair of the OPSEU Corrections Ministry Employee Relations
Committee, has written to Corrections Minister Norm Sterling to demand a review
of the continued use of this facility.
"TYAC was never meant for young offenders or young offender
programming," Scanlon said. "We want a comprehensive review of the
institution before the situation turns deadly."
Once again, it was OPSEU members who quelled the disturbance and restored
order to the facility. Another job well, and professionally, done.
Where there’s smoke…
A postscript to the TYAC riot was the discovery that the words "fire
retardant" may be a tad misleading.
One of article set ablaze by the youths were the new "white"
pillows that are being supplied to the institutions. They are labeled as fire
retardant, but apparently they are about as flame proof as gasoline on sawdust.
To prove this point, Correctional Officer Doug McArthur at the Waterloo D.C.
took a discarded damaged pillow out to the parking lot and tried to light it
himself.
"The case was ripped, so I pulled out some stuffing and put a match to
it," Doug said. I wasn’t expecting much to happen, but it went up like a
Roman candle."
Doug then observed that heavy black smoke was generated as soon as the outer
covering caught fire. "When the fire finally died off, there was nothing
left but the part of the case that was next to the ground."
The pillows at Waterloo are being sent to the local fire department for a
more "official" test. In the meantime, we would like to warn ALL
members of the potential risk that these pillows pose.
Resolution Watch
The resolution count took a giant leap forward this week with the addition of
11 municipalities who are opposed to private correctional services. The count
currently stands at 194.
Now supporting Penetanguishene are the Township of Laird (east of
Sault Ste. Marie), the Township of Hilliard (north of New
Liskeard), the Township of Harley (near New Liskeard),
the Municipality of French River (south of Sudbury), the Township
of South Algonquin (east of Huntsville), the Village of
Thornloe (north of New Liskeard), the Village of Burk's Falls
(near Parry Sound), the Township of Dack (south of Kirkland
Lake), the Township of Tuckersmith (east of Goderich),
the Township of North Algona – Wilberforce (south of Pembroke) and
the Township of MacDonald, Meredith and Aberdeen (near Sault Ste.
Marie).
Lock up your councils! The Resolution Warrior is coming to town!
Thanks again to Len Mason of Local 737 (Thunder Bay Jail).
For campaign information, call Don Ford (ext. 442) or Carol Whitehead
(ext. 356) at
1-800-268-7376 or (416) 443-8888. e-mail: dford@opseu.org
or cwhitehead@opseu.org
.
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
100 Lesmill Road, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3P8
www.opseu.org
opseu@opseu.org
Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.
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